Watermelon is
the fruit and plant of a vine-like (climber and trailer) herb originally from
southern Africa. The watermelon fruit, loosely considered a type of melon
(although not in the genus Cucumis), has a smooth exterior rind (green and
yellow) and a juicy, sweet, usually red or yellow interior flesh.
Watermelon is rich in lycopene,
an antioxidant that makes watermelons and tomatoes red and may help reduce
heart disease and some cancers. The lycopene content of watermelon is
substantial, contributing 8-20 mg per 180 gram (about 6 ounce) serving.

The temperature at which watermelon is stored
influences the lycopene content (see below). Citrulline
is a substance related to arginine and is found in high concentrations in
watermelon rind. Some claim citrulline has similar effects to Viagra. Is it? See
citrulline for more
information.

Nutritional content of
watermelon and seedsWatermelon is a great source of vitamin C and a good source of vitamin A,
notably through its concentration of beta-carotene. Watermelon is also a
source of the potent carotenoid antioxidant, lycopene. Vitamin C, beta
carotene and lycopene are potent free radical scavengers. Watermelon has
small amounts B vitamins, iron, and potassium, and very small amounts of
calcium and magnesium. Watermelon is mostly carbohydrate with little
protein and hardly any fat or cholesterol.

Calorie content of
watermelon
A whole cup (about 8 ounces) of watermelon contains about 40 to 70
calories since about 90 percent of watermelon fruit is water.

BenefitExercise performance, no
benefit short termJ Sports Sci. 2014 Dec 17. The effect
of l-citrulline and watermelon juice supplementation on anaerobic and
aerobic exercise performance. A single dose of l-citrulline or
watermelon juice as a pre-exercise supplement appears not to be
effective in improving exercise performance.

Storing Watermelon
Watermelons stored at room temperature deliver more nutrients than refrigerated
or freshly picked melons. Researchers tested several popular varieties of watermelon stored
for 14 days at 70 F, 55 F and 41 F.
Whole watermelons stored at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which is about room
temperature in air-conditioned buildings, had substantially more nutrients.
Compared with freshly picked fruit, watermelon stored at 70 F gained up to 40
percent more lycopene and 50 percent to 139 percent extra beta-carotene, which
the body converts to vitamin A. Watermelons continue to produce these
nutrients after they are picked and that chilling slows this process. The usual shelf life for watermelons is 14 to 21 days at 13 degrees Celsius (55
F) after harvest. At refrigerated temperatures, such as 41 F, watermelon starts
to decay and develop lesions after a week.

Carotenoid
changes of intact watermelons after storage.
J Agric Food Chem. 2006. Perkins-Veazie P, Collins JK.
South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service,
US Department of Agriculture, Lane, Oklahoma, USA.
Three types of watermelon, open-pollinated seeded, hybrid seeded, and
seedless types, were stored at 5, 13, and 21 degrees Centigrade for 14 days and
flesh color, composition, and carotenoid content were compared to those of fruit
not stored. Watermelons stored at 21 degrees C had increased pH, chroma, and
carotenoid content compared to fresh fruit. Compared to fresh fruit, watermelons
stored at 21 degrees C gained 11-40% in lycopene and 50-139% in beta-carotene,
whereas fruit held at 13 degrees C changed little in carotenoid content. These
results indicate that carotenoid biosynthesis in watermelons can be affected by
temperature and storage.

Watermelon and feta cheese
Watermelon is a delicious fruit
dessert when eaten with feta cheese. Feta cheese
seems to be the best type of cheese to eat with watermelon due to its crumbling
capacity and the fact that it is salty. In the Middle East, many people eat
watermelon with feta cheese. Officially watermelon is classified as a vegetable.

Varieties of watermelon
There are close to 200 varieties of watermelon grown in the United
States. These are classified into four general groups: Picnic, Ice-box, Yellow
Flesh, and Seedless.

Watermelon is a good source of citrulline
Watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris Schrad.) is a natural and rich source of the
non-essential amino acid citrulline. Citrulline is used in the nitric oxide
system in humans and has potential antioxidant and vasodilatation roles.

Watermelon consumption increases plasma arginine concentrations in adults.Nutrition. 2007. USDA-ARS, South Central Agricultural
Research Laboratory, Lane, Oklahoma, USA.Watermelon is a rich source of citrulline, an amino acid that can be
metabolized to arginine, a conditionally essential amino acid for humans.
Arginine is the nitrogenous substrate used in the synthesis of nitric oxide and
plays an essential role in cardiovascular and immune functions. This study
investigated if watermelon juice consumption increases fasting concentrations of
plasma arginine, ornithine, and citrulline in healthy adult humans. Subjects
consumed a controlled diet and 0 (control), 780, or 1560 g of watermelon juice
per day for 3 wk in a crossover design. The treatments provided 1 and 2 g of
citrulline per day. Treatment periods were preceded by washout periods of 2 to 4
weeks. Compared with the baseline, fasting plasma arginine concentrations increased
12% after 3 wk of the lower-dose watermelon treatment; arginine and ornithine
concentrations increased 22% and 18%, respectively, after 3 wk of the
higher-dose watermelon treatment. Fasting citrulline concentrations did not
increase relative to the control but remained stable throughout the study. The
increased fasting plasma concentrations of arginine and ornithine and stable
concentrations of plasma citrulline in response to watermelon juice consumption
indicated that the citrulline from this plant origin was effectively converted
into arginine.

Dietary
supplementation with watermelon pomace juice enhances arginine availability and
ameliorates the metabolic syndrome in Zucker diabetic fatty rats.J Nutr. 2007. Faculty of Nutrition and Department of
Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Pomace is the solid remains of olives, grapes, watermelon or other fruit after
pressing for juice or oil. It is essentially the pulp, peel, seeds and stalks of
the fruit after the oil, water, or other liquid has been pressed out. Watermelon is rich in L-citrulline, an
effective precursor of L-arginine. This study was conducted to determine whether
dietary supplementation with watermelon pomace juice could lessen the metabolic
syndrome in the Zucker diabetic fatty rat, an animal model of
noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Nine-week-old rats were assigned
randomly to receive drinking water containing 0% (control) or 0.2% L-arginine
(as 0.24% L-arginine-HCl), 63% watermelon pomace juice, 0.01% lycopene, or 0.05%
citrus pectin. At the end of the 4 week supplementation period, blood samples,
aortic rings, and hearts were obtained for biochemical and physiological
analyses. These results provide the first evidence to our knowledge for a
beneficial effect of watermelon pomace juice as a functional food for increasing
arginine availability, reducing serum concentrations of cardiovascular risk
factors, improving glycemic control, and ameliorating vascular dysfunction in
obese animals with type-II diabetes.

Do watermelons have effects similar to Viagra?
The media has made a big story of watermelon having Viagra-like effects
since watermelons contain a substance called citrulline which converts into the
amino acid arginine. Arginine helps dilate blood vessels. Because of this
biochemical connection, Bhimu Patil, a researcher and director of Texas A&M's
Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center was quoted saying, "Arginine boosts
nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra
has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it." Well, this is all
the media needed to hype this story. But, does eating watermelon flesh or rind
have any sexual enhancing effects? I love watermelon, it is one of my favorite
foods. I actually love the combination of watermelon and feta cheese. I have
been known to eat half a large watermelon at one sitting. I have not noticed any
Viagra-like effects from eating watermelon or drinking watermelon juice. I have
also tried citrulline supplements and arginine supplements and have not noticed
much of an effect on erectile function. Even if citrulline and arginine dilate
blood vessels, their effects are brief. If you really want to enhance libido,
sensation and sexual stamina, Passion Rx with Yohimbe is one of your best
options.
According to Bhimu Patil, more citrulline - about 60 percent - is
found in watermelon rind than in the flesh.

Watermelon questions and emails, side
effects, cautions

Yesterday I
read your newsletter that commented on the question whether watermelons could
induce the same effects as Viagra. Being a Christian female practicing celibacy
I cannot comment. BUT a lightbulb connection went on as I read your description
of citrulline, arginine and the relaxation of blood vessels. For decades I have
had visual (zigzag) aura phenomena followed usually by a mild headache. The aura
would often be the most annoying part in that it would grow in size and make be
able to focus impossible for a while. But last month I had a bonafide 48 hour
headache that started after waking up late at night. I did not notice an aura
unless it occurred in my sleep. I texted my daughter that the headache was
either sinus, migraine or brain tumor (the reference to tumor is my off humor in
that I have both a mother and sister who died of brain cancer). I get relatively
few headaches compared to my younger days unless I stop drinking coffee and have
a caffeine withdrawal syndrome which involves expanding blood vessels also. Well
I kind of deduced it was migraine in that bromelain and other supplements
including motrin had no effect. I had a typical aura a couple of days later
after the 48 hour headache subsided. After reading your newsletter yesterday I
realized I had binged on half a small watermelon that very evening when I woke
up with this 48 hour long headache. I maybe ate the rest of it the next day but
not sure. I love watermelon but don't buy/eat it often. I think there is a
connection with migraine and I thought you'd perhaps find it a possibility and
of interest.

Regarding
watermelon and migraine. I suppose I am one who had this very thing happen. I've
had ocular migraines about three times in a year. This morning I experienced
nearly the same thing that the writer above had: A long-lasting migraine-like
morning headache, and I had eaten quite a lot of watermelon the evening prior.

I have
repeatedly experienced migraine inducement from consuming watermelon at night.
Daytime consumption seems to have little effect though with enough melon, the
effect begins mildly. I conjecture there is a digestive or metabolic slowing
with sleep that somehow causes overloading of whatever active agent is
responsible for triggering the migraine. I now avoid eating it at night in more
than a small quantity which allows me to enjoy it without a day long disabling
migraine following. There may be a sugar related event involved here I am not
sure, inasmuch as late evening ice cream consumption can do the same thing. I am
a 57 yr old male U.S. Caucasian mild hypoglycemic, ectomorph, fast metabolism
generally, gym fit, non-smoker, 2 cups coffee daily. Paleolithic--meat and basic
greens, tubers, unrefined foods / modern eating habits.

I am no
scientist, but what do you think of this? Watermelon -- > citrulline -->
arginine --> boosts nitric oxide --> dialates blood vessels in the brain -->
headache.
I don't know... I wonder if eating cold watermelon can
contribute due to the cold factor itself. There may be other possibilities.

I have
experienced migraines several times. It also seems to have started or increased
with the seedless varieties coming onto the market. The last time I gorged on
seedless on a hot afternoon and then napped for over an hour, when I woke up the
headache was fully there. I have taken a daily beta blocker for years, but
watermelon, alcohol, and MSG still get thru.